Process for oiling fabrics prior to reduction to fibre



Jan. 14-, 1958 H. FAIRFIELD 2,819,496

PROCESS FOR OILING FABRICS PRIOR TO REDUCTION TO FIBRE Original Filed Dec. 28, 1950 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Jan. 14, 1958 H. J. FAIRFIE LD 2,819,496

PROCESS FOR OILING FABRICS PRIOR TO REDUCTION TO FIBRE Original Filed Dec. 28, 1950 Z'Sheets-Sheet 2 Li yore/ for."

"United diaries Pdtcftit PROCES l iili @lJLllNG lFAlBlRICS PRIOR TU) REDUCTION T FIBRE Hugh J. Fairiield, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada 'Driginal appiication December 28, 1950, Serial No. 203,182, new Patent No. 2,646,774, dated 111115 28, 1953.. Divided and this application May 2'7, 1953, Serial No. 357,771

1 Claim. c1. 19--66) My invention relates to a process for the preparation of fabrics prior to their conversion to fibre, an object of my invention being to provide a process of the character herewithin described whereby fabrics such as old woolens, rags, tailor clippings,.or any woven or knitted fabrics may be softened and fiulfed up prior to their conversion to fibre by picking machines or the like.

A further object of my invention is to provide a process of the character herewithin described which reduces considerably the amount of fly normally occurring in the picking operation of fabrics.

Still another object of my invention is to provide a process of the character herewithin described which will permit relatively longer fibres to be obtained during the picking process thereby increasing considerably the quality of the resultant yarn formed therefrom.

Yet another object of my invention is to provide a process of the character herewithin described which ensures the efficient impregnation with oil of all the fibres Within the fabrics to be converted.

Still. another object of my invention is to provide a process ofthe character herewithin described which includes means to impregnate the fibres with oilby the use of live steam which tends to soften and make more pliable the fibres in the fabrics.

A still further object of my invention is to provide a process of the character herewithin described, the use of which enables a tremendous saving of time and floor space to be made.

With the foregoing objects in view, and such other objects and advantages as will become apparent to those skilled in the art to which this invention relates as this specification proceeds, my invention consists essentially in the arrangement and construction of parts all as hereinafter more particularly described, reference being had to the accompanying drawings in which:

Figure 1 is an end view of one device which can be used in my process with the supporting structure removed and Without the oil supply means being illustrated.

Figure 2 is a side elevation of the device with part of the supporting structure removed and without the oil supply means being illustrated.

Figure 3 is a vertical section of the drum illustrated in Figure 2.

Figure '4 is an enlarged fragmentary view sectioned in detail of the oil and steam supply nozzle and the drum stub-axle.

Figure 5 is a fragmentary end view of the drive means per se.

mt E96 Patented Jan. 14, 1958 in the drhwings like characters of reference indicate corresponding parts in the different figures.

In the process of reducing old Woolens, rags, tailor clippings and the like to fibre preparatory to the spinning of same into iarn to form what is conventionally known as shoddy, it is conventional practice to endeavor to impregnate the fibres of the material to be reduced, with oil in order to lubricate the fabrics and to prevent excess fibre breakage occurring to any large extent.

The conventional method of obtaining this result is to place a layer of the fabrics upon the floor area thereupon spraying same with oil by hand or mechanically and then building up a further layer which, in turn, is sprayed and so on until the desired depth is reached. The resultant mass is then left from between twelve and forty-eight hours to season and to permit the oil to penetrate the individual fibres. Due to the relatively large area required for this process, it is common practice for any plant to have more space for seasoning than it has for the resultant processing of the fabrics. Furthermore, this haphazard method of sprinkling oil upon the fabrics which have been layered does not permit the penetration of oil to the fibres to an equal extent, consequently, when the fabrics are passing through the picking machine, it is quite usual to strike batches that are relatively wet With oil and then further batches which have not been impregnated to any extent whatsoever.

Theprocess herein to be described overcomes these disadvanta inasmuch as equal impregnation of oil to er'y fibre is ensured and at the same time on suring an extensive saving of time and space to accomplish this process.

Proceeding now to describe my process in detail, reference shoulillbe made to my co-pending application Serial No. 203,i;&i2, filed December 28, 1950, of which this is a divisional application. In order to facilitate an understanding of the process involved, I append herewith drawings and a description of the apparatus used. It will be seen that l have provided a cylindrical drum 1 having loading and unloading doors 2 situated within the walls 3 thereof. in this embodiment I have illustrated a pair of horizcntaliy disposed doors hinged as a d and having a comm'online of closure 5, the doors being maintained closed by means of a simple latch mechanism 6.

Coucentrically disposed within the end Walls 7 of the drum, are a. pair of flanges it to which are secured stubaxles and 10. fhese stub-axles extend outwardly from the drum and are journalled for rotation within bearings 11 mounted upon the upper ends of supportingstructure, collectivelykdesignated 12 and which, in this embodiment, takes the form of a pair of triangular frames 13 with the bearings at the apices thereof.

Spur gears 14'- are keyed to each of the stub-axles 9 and eh'gageable with corresponding spur gears 15 carried upon a cross shaft 16 which, in turn, may be driven from a pulley and belt combination 17 from an associated source of power (not illustrated).

The interior of the drum 3'. is divided into two compartrnentsilifi'and' 19 formed by a screen 2i) spanning the side wallsibf the drum substantially towards one end thereof. Access to compartment 19 of the drum is obtained by the aforementioned doors 2 and it is Within this compartment that the fabrics to be treated are loaded.

astaaee Means to facilitate the movement of fabrics within the drum during rotation thereof are provided within the compartment 19 and take the form of longitudinally extending tumbler bars 21 secured to the inner side walls 22 of the container and include flanged portions 23 extending inwardly towards the centre of the drum.

1 have provided means for introducing oil and steam to the interior of the drum during rotation and in this connection, reference is to be had to the aforementioned stubaxle specifically designated 10 which is shown in detail in Figure 4 of the accompanying drawings. Reference to this drawing will show that the stub xle it is drilled concentrically thus forming a hollow aide through which passes an inlet nozzle collectively deisgnated 24. This nozzle is also hollow and extends through the stub-axle It) to the interior of the drum 1 within the compartment 18. Reference to Figure 3 of the accompanying drawings will show that this nozzle extends upwardly as at 255 within compartment 13 and then terminates in an injector 26 upon the upper end thereof directed towards the screen 20.

The external portion 27 of the nozzle 24 is provided with a union 23 which is connected to a steam carrying conduit 29 extending to a source of steam (not illustrated) controlled by turn cock 3d.

The nozzle 24 is also connected by means of a union 31 to an oil carrying conduit 32 which extends between the nozzle 24 and a source of oil collectively designated 33.

Reference to Figure l of the accompanying drawings will show the details of this oil supply-jwhich includes a hydraulic cylinder 34 mounted upon a common base 55 and a piston 36 reciprocal therewithin. Said piston is concentrically drilled as at 37 and is connected to an upwardly extending hollow piston rod 3$ the lower end of which communicates with the aforementioned aperture 37 within the piston 36.

After extending upwardly through cap-39 of the cylinder 34, the piston rod is surmounted a cylinder filling means collectively designated 40. Cylinder filling means 40' includes a funnel 411 the lower end 42 of which communicates with a stop cock 43 which, m turn,.'communicates with the upper end 44 of the afo entioned hollow piston rod 38.

A portion 45 of the piston rod is provided with rack teeth 46 engageable with a spur gear 4"] secured to a transverse shaft 48 supported within bearings 49 mounted upon cap 39.

The outer end of shaft is provided with a cable carrying drum a9 and a Windlass handle so, a cable 51 extending over associated pulleys 52 terminating in a weight 53 freely suspended at the opposite endthereof.

Before proceeding with the operation of my device I desire to explain the operation of the oil feeding means hereinbefore described. The piston 36 and rod 38 are first raised to the'upper limits of cylinder 34 by means of the handle 50. This turns spur gear d'p which. due to its engagement with rack teeth 46 on the piston rod, causes same to rise upwardly together with the cylinder filling means 40. At the same time cable 51 is wound upon drum and weight 53 is raised. in: order to maintain the assembly in this position, a conventional ratchet lever (not illustrated) may be inoorporatedywith the aforementioned rack teeth 47 thereby snagging same in the upper position during filling. I Turn cock 43 is now opened and oil is poured within funnel 41 passing downwardly through the piston rod 38, and through the piston 36 into the cylinderbelow. Turn cock 43 is now shut and the aforementioned ratchet lever disengaged thereby permitting weight ."33 to exert downward movement upon piston rod 3%; and piston 36. This causes oil to flow along line 32, the amount passing into nozzle 24 being controlled by a further turn cock .51 situated at the end of the portion 27 of the nozzle 24.

Proceeding now to describe the entire operation of my invention, the doors 2 are opened *andla load of fabrics fit lit

to be oiled are placed within compartment 19 of the container 1. The doors are now closed and latched securely whereupon the drum is caused to rotate by means of the pulley 17 and the engagement of gears 15 with gears 14. In this connection, it will be noted that al though stub axle 10 rotates within bearing 11, it also rotates around nozzle 24 which, of course, is stationary.

Turn cocks 51 and 30 are now opened to permit steam and oil to flow into the nozzle 24 under pressure thereafter being dispersed through injector 26 in a fine mist or spray and thence through the screen 20 to the fabrics within the drum.

The steam causes softening of the fabrics within the drum thereby permitting a better penetration of the oil particles and, due to the tumbling action engendered by means of the bars 21, the oil and steam comes into contact,

with the surfaces of all the portions of fabrics therewithin.

It is desirable that the amount of oil passing through nozzle 24 during the processing of one batch of fabrics be between one percent to ten percent of the weight of the fabrics with sufiicient steam to soften the fabrics but not to dampen same excessively.

It has been found that with an approximate load within the drum of five hundred pounds of fabrics, a period of between twenty minutes and ninety minutes is desirable with a period of thirty minutes as an optimum being required in order to obtain the best results.

After being processed for the desired length of time, the rotation of the drum 1 is ceased, the doors opened and the fabrics unloaded ready for transferring to the picking machine.

I wish to stress that the resultant shoddy produced from fibres obtained from fabrics treated as hereinbefore described, is superior in quality than that produced by the normal methods thereby resulting in a saving of the virgin wool normally mixed with the reclaimed fibres of some ten to fifteen percent.

I also desire to stress that this particular process and apparatus is suitable for the impregnation of fabrics having relatively tight fibres as well as knitted goods which have relatively loose fibres and that the conventional method of oiling is entirely unsatisfactory particularly on tight fibred materials.

Finally, it will be noted in connection with the pulley drive collectively designated 17 that I have illustrated a lay-shaft 52 carrying spur gears 53' upon the ends thereof which, in turn, are engageable with the aforementioned spur gears 15. A conventional reversing head assembly 54 is associated with shaft 52, the rotation of which causes cross head 55 to reciprocate transversely carrying with it belt moving fork 56 journalled in bearings 57.

Three pulleys are illustrated upon shaft 52 in this embodiment, the central one 58 of which is keyed thereto. The two outer pulleys 59 and 6t) are journalled freely for rotation upon shaft '52 and carry, alternatively, belts 61 and 62 which extend to conventional power-driven shafting (not illustrated). In this connection, it will be observed that belt 62. is reversed or crossed thus traveling in a different direction to belt 61.

Due to the'reciprocation of belt moving fork 56, belt 61 is, alternatively, moved from pulley 58 to pulley 59 and at the same time, belt 62 is moved from pulley to pulley 58 thus causing an alternative reversal of rotation of shaft 52 and, consequently, of the drum 3.

By this means, the drum 3 is revolved first in one direction and then the other, thus causing the tumbler bars 21 to elevate the contents of the drum which then fall freely to the bottom thereof at the change of rotation which means that the fabrics within the drum fall through the mist of steam and oil therein thus assisting materially in the penetration of the fibres by the oil.

Since various modifications .can be made in my invenv 1y different embodiments of same made within the spirit and scope of the claim without departing from such spirit and scope, it is intended that all matter contained in the accompanying specification shall be interpreted as illustrative only and not in a limiting sense.

What I claim as my invention is:

A process for oiling woven or knitted fabrics prior to their reduction to fibre which consists of tumbling the fabrics in a closed container and introducing a supply of atomized steam and oil, the amount of oil being from between one and ten percent by weight of the fabric being treated, treating said fabric for a period of between twenty and ninety minutes, and picking the fabrics into fibres.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Greene Apr. 12, 1859 Laemle Aug. 12, 1884 McCarthy Feb. 12, 1924 Smith Sept. 13, 1927 Rewald Feb. 6, 1934 FOREIGN PATENTS Great Britain of A. D. 1867 

